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Cool cruising

CHEVROLET'S OPTRA REPLACEMENT MAY NOT BE THE BEST MODEL IN ITS CLASS, BUT IT OOZES WITH STYLE AND FRESHNESS, AND OFFERS GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY

Published: 24/01/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Life

It was quite a good move on part of Chevrolet to use a different name for its Optra replacement because the Cruze successor is vastly different and, indeed, it looks as much.

Of course, that's to say Chevrolet's new C-segment saloon is now a worthy player against leading rivals like the Toyota Corolla Altis and Honda Civic.
Take styling, a prominent example. Rarely, if ever, has a Chevy in Thailand looked as good as the Cruze. The front grille, headlights and BMW 7-series-aping tail lamps make the four-door stand out in its class, although the overall effect is still far from perfect.
The interior is even better with that flashy fascia that seems to have evolved from the one in the Captiva SUV, while the dash is probably the most rousing aspect of the Cruze car and perhaps also the best in its class.
And the touches, which include twin cockpit design, panel dials with aquamarine fonts, two-tone colour and chunky steering wheel, are cool.
But whether it is a revelation in ergonomic terms is another matter because some items and the gear lever itself aren't exactly ideally located. For this particular reason, it seems that the Civic, providing the most natural environ for the driver, still rules the roost.
And while we have no qualms about how good the cabin looks in the skin, some plastics feel hard and panel gap is not that consistent.
Chevrolet is making bold claims, boasting of an interior with the most space in-class. True, there's absolutely no problem about head and leg room, but it still appears that the Civic has the airiest ambience when sitting in the rear.Auto Review , auto shipping reviews

Trying to act like a hatchback when it is not, the Cruze saloon has rear backrests that can usefully fold when users require more boot space, already cavernous when sized up against rivals.
A brand new thing for a Chevrolet passenger car in Thailand is the availability of a diesel engine. Brought over from the Captiva, that 2.0-litre turbocharged unit has the same 150hp but is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, thereby locking horns with the Ford Focus.
And since this oil-burning Cruze is the range-topper, Chevrolet has tried to equip it as comprehensively as possible. Many gimmicks usually found in luxury cars have been brought over, the most notable one being the information display on the centre console.
However, the safety kit count could have been better. Although the Cruze has safety features comparable with traditional range-topping rivals, it lacks the cabin-filled airbags of the Toyota Prius, a prominent blip on the radar-screen of buyers in the 1-1.3 million baht price range.
As the Cruze is based on a new platform used globally by General Motors, it has significantly better driving manners than the Optra on the move.
Like before, there's an emphasis on the so-called Euro ride/handling setup, meaning that there's a slightly sporty feel to the Cruze. The chassis is on the taut side if you compare with the Corolla, for example, but hardly uncomfortable.

The stylish fascia is probably the highlight of the Cruze.

In fact, such a balance can be found in rivals like the Focus, Mazda 3 and Mitsubishi Lancer EX where stability is prioritised over outright low-speed ride comfort.
While the damping rates of the suspension don't appear to affect the primary ride in the Cruze on Thai roads, the low-profiled tyres rimming the 17-inch wheels can make ride fidgety over road imperfections and vocal at high speeds.
Nevertheless, the Cruze is still decently comfortable on the move with a light and direct steering in real-world driving conditions. It's only when roads get curvy that the Cruze loses some zest in handling.
While the effortless steering has its merits on the straights, it doesn't feel that accurate on the twisty bits and ultimately lacks the finer handling balance of the class-leading Focus - quite commendable for a Ford when a replacement is already on the horizon.
Like in the Focus, the diesel-turbo in the Cruze has the best performance in its model range explaining its top-of-the-line position.
The diesel Cruze has plenty of useful performance, be it at low or high speeds, and is never short of it.Auto Review , auto shipping reviews

An info display comes to mainstream cars.

But what spoils the Cruze on the move is a conspicuous turbo lag below 2,000rpm - where there's hardly any - especially when driving on demanding road conditions.
At least, it is not that irritating when driving the Cruze elsewhere. Plus, the all-new six-speed auto in place of the old four-speeder helps out with smooth power delivery which, with a return of just under 15kpl, doesn't necessarily translate into excellent fuel economy.
Is the Cruze a Focus-beater in diesel form? Nope, it isn't because the Ford still has a better balance between performance and economy, as well as attributes pertaining to handling and ride.
In other words, the Focus is still the better car to drive.
But other than that, the Cruze beats the Focus, be it in styling, packaging and practicality terms.
In fact, it is these vital ingredients that would help buyers get swayed from the one million baht-plus 2.0-litre petrol range-toppers of the Civic, Corolla, 3 and Lancer lineups, too.
To sum up, the Cruze scores on freshness, completeness and value for money. It merely isn't the best C-segment car, overall.